Method and apparatus for the processing of undesired yarn conditions appearing at an automatic winding machine



Feb. 14, 1967 R. JENNY 3,304,015

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE PROCESSING OF UNDESIRED YARN CONDITIONS APPEARING AT AN AUTOMATIC WINDING MACHINE INVENTOR RudoLF 3 5mm BYQW Feb. 14, 1967 R. JENNY METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE PROCESSING OF UNDESIRED YARN CONDITIONS APPEARING AT AN AUTOMATIC WINDING MACHINE Filed April 16, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Rude LF TEN!!! BY @Wu KQWMM Hi AHo'w Feb. 14, 1967 R. JENNY 3,304,015

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE PROCESSING OF UNDESIRED YARN CONDITIONS APPEARING AT AN AUTOMATIC WINDING MACHINE Filed April 16, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR Rude LF Sena g H; w

United States Patent 3,304,015 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE PROCESS- ING OF UNDESEED YARN CONDITIONS AP- The preset invention has reference to an improved method for processing undesirable yarn conditions appearing at an automatic winding machine of the type provided with a plurality of winding units or locations, and further, to an improved apparatus for the performance of the aforesaid method.

Automatic winding machines are those which are at least in a position to remedy or rectify yarn rupture occurring at the winding locations as well as, if the situation requires, replacing depleted or exhausted delivery bobbins or cops with new full bobbins. For this purpose such winding machines exhibit one or more units, herein conveniently termed servicing unit or tending mechanism for removal or rectification of the disturbance, more specifically, the undesired yarn condition. Such servicing unit searches for the yarn ends to be knotted together, brings them together, and is in a condition to knot them, and furthermore, is capable of removing new delivery bobbins from a delivery bobbin supply magazine or battery and after removing the sleeve of an exhausted delivery bobbin can conduct the new bobbin to the winding location. For reasons of economy such a unit i.e. servicing unit or tending mechanism for rectifying undesired yarn conditions is generally associated with a plurality of winding locations, whereby either the winding locations move relative to the unit or the unit travels relative to the winding locations, and in each case come to standstill at that winding location where an undesired yarn condition has occurred.

There exists the problem of utilizing such unit in the shortest possible time in conjunction with a winding location at which there has occurred an undesired yarn condition and to remove such undesired condition at such winding location within the shortest period of time. It is known to the prior art to supervise or monitor the individual winding locations through the intermediary of a plurality of feelers or scanners and to provide the unit with information relating to the nature of the disturbance or undesired yarn condition. The difficulty with the servicing of a plurality of winding locations by means of a unit for removing the undesired yarn condition resides in the fact that, at the moment there appears an undesired yarn condition or disturbance at a first winding location it is possible that the aforesaid unit is occupied with a different winding location and, for such reason, cannot receive and process the error or disturbance signal now emanating from the aforesaid first winding location. This can result in the fact that the unit for removing the undesired yarn condition, when such comes into operable working association with the aforesaid first winding location, initiates a non-purposeful operation for disturbance removal or, however, the error, that is the nature of the disturbance must still first be determined at the relevant winding location after having come together with the unit and prior to the proper undesired yarn conditionremoval operations being initiated.

Hence, it is an important object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for the processing of disturbances or undesired yarn con- "ice ditions appearing at automatic winding machines and which overcome the aforementioned disadvantages.

Another important object of this invention resides in the provision of an improved method and apparatus for processing undesired yarn conditions which may occur at the individual winding locations of an automatic winding machine, and wherein information as to the nature of the undesired yarn condition which has occurred at a particular winding location is obtained prior to coincidence or coming together of a unit for removing the un desired yarn condition and the aforesaid particular winding station or location.

Still a further important object of this invention resides in the provision of an improved method and apparatus for processing undesired yarn conditions which may appear at the individual winding locations of an automatic winding machine and wherein information relative to the nature of an undesired yarn condition which has occurred at a particular winding location is obtained prior to cooperative working association of the aforesaid particular winding location with a unit for removing the undesired yarn condition, and wherein the obtained information is used to prepare the unit for immediate and quick action for the purpose of rectifying the undesired yarn condition prior to the assumption of such cooperative working association of unit and particular winding location.

The inventive method is characterized by the features that due to the occurrence of an undesired yarn condition or disturbance at a winding location at least a further condition of the yarn is checked at the relevant winding location, and that a unit for removing the undesired yarn condition is conditioned or acted upon by virtue of an error or disturbance signal resulting from such further supervision or checking and prior to this unit beginning its undesired yarn condition-removal operation in accordance with the aforesaid error signal resulting from such further checking operation.

By Virtue of the foregoing measures it is possible to obtain and hold in readiness the complete information regarding the condition of the winding location for the moment that such winding location and unit for disturbance removal come together into operable relation and to influence without loss of time such unit for the purpose of initiating the most advantageous disturbance removal operation.

The inventive apparatus for carrying out the afore described method assumes that each winding location is provided with at least one feeler as well as at least a further supervising or monitoring element, and wherein the unit for remedying or rectifying the undesired yarn condition is constructed such that in consequence of an error or disturbance signal of the feeler a knotting operation is performed and in consequence of an error signal of the further supervising element an exchange of the delivery bobbin is executed, particularly after the relevant winding location and unit have arrived in a relative position necessary for disturbance removal, with the invention being characterized by the features that, the feeler for the transmission of an error signal is connected with the supervising or monitoring element in order to cause the latter to execute a checking or monitoring operation, whereby signal means are provided and operably connected with the supervising element in order to transmit to the unit an error condition determined by this supervising element.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, at least for each unit, if not in fact for each winding location, there is provided a third supervising or monitoring element. Whereas the feeler and the second supervising element are associated with the yarn path of travel between the delivery bobbin and the wind-up bobbin, the

third supervising element is itself associated with the delivery bobbin and serves in known manner to determine the extent of the yarn package remaining at this delivery bobbin. The apparatus is, moreover, advantageously constructed such that a similar error or disturbance signal for transmission to the unit is generated if either the second or the third supervising element, or both, determine a defective or error condition. As regards the supervising or monitoring'elements such are preferably feelers or scanners which in consideration of their function do not continuously monitor and, thus, are not able to deliver any continuously appearing signal by virtue of which only changes of the same can be evaluated.

Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an overall perspective view of an automatic yarn winding machine;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the winding machine depicted in FIGURE 1 on a somewhat enlarged scale;

FIGURE 3 schematically illustrates a first embodiment of an inventive monitoring or supervision mechanism arranged at a winding location;

FIGURE 4 schematically illustrates a further embodiment of inventive monitoring or supervision apparatus for a winding location;

FIGURE 5 schematically illustrates an embodiment of feeler for sensing the remainder of the yarn package at a delivery bobbin; and

FIGURE 6 is a circuit diagram of an illustrative embodiment of the monitoring apparatus or mechanism depicted in FIGURES 4 and 5 employed in conjunction with the automatic winder of FIGURES 1 and 2.

The monitoring or supervision of the winding locations or units with regard to the condition of the delivery bobbinsas well as the presence of a yarn between such delivery bobbin and the yarn cleaner is practically only of importance and comes into consideration with automatic winding machines. Generally speaking, such servicing winding machines possess a so-called automatic unit or tending mechanism which, upon yarn rupture or depletion of the delivery bobbin or spool, is switched-in for the purpose of removing the yarn rupture or to conduct a new full delivery bobbin to the relevant winding location and to then knot the yarn end. Servicing units or tending mechanisms of the a-forenoted type and suitable for implementing such operations are well known to the art, and since the invention is not related to the details thereof only enough of its structure will be considered in the description to follow in order to enable the general principles of the invention to be readily understood.

It should, however, be appreciated that the subsequent description of the individual embodiments cooperate together with such a tending mechanism or servicing unit, as will now be described. Describing now in particular FIGURES 1 and 2, it will be seen that the embodiment illustrated therein of an automatic winder or winding machine generally comprises in its essential components a stationary machine base A, a revolving circular table or turret C carrying a plurality of winding units or stations B and concentrically travelling about the machine base A, as well as a servicing unit on tending mechanism D which like such machine base A is stationary. This servicing unit D, in turn, comprises the disturbance or faulty yarn condition-removal mechanism E and control component F and serves the purpose of automatical- -ly remedying disturbances or faulty yarn conditions, such as yarn rupture or depletion of the delivery bobbin.

As can best be seen by referring to FIGURES 1, 3 and 4, the yarn 1 is delivered from the delivery bobbin or cop 2 via a balloon breaker 3 together wit-h which a yarn feeler 4 cooperates, through an eyelet 5, a yarn brake 6, a stop stirrup or feeler bracket 7 and grooved drum 8 to the wind-up bobbin 9. 'For convenience in illustration elements 5 to 9' are only shown in the embodiment of FIGURE 4, yet the embodiment of FIG- UR-E 3 would also incorporate such elements. Reference numeral 10 designates a yarn guide plate, whereas reference numeral 11 denotes a yarn take-up plate. With the aforedescribed arrangement the operation is such that, during yarn rupture the stop bracket. 7, normally held back by the yarn tension, falls forwardly, and thereby the servicing unit D for removal of the disturbance or faulty yarn condition is placed into operation, as will more fully be described as the description proceeds.

Considering now the specific embodiment depicted in FIGURE 3, and wherein such an illustrated monitoring mechanism is arranged at each individual winding station B, it will be recognized that the yarn 1 coming from the delivery bobbin 2 is guided past a balloon breaker 3 with which cooperates a yarn feeler 4. A further yarn feeler 12 is associated with the delivery bobbin 2 and is carried by an arm 13, whereby this arm together with a second arm 14 forms a lever which is seated upon a shaft 15. The shaft 15 is subjected to the action of a torsion spring 16 which is effective in such a manner that there is carried out a pivoting of the arm 13 in a direction towards the surface of the delivery bobbin 2.

A shaft 17 which carries the yarn feeler 4 through the agency of an arm 18, and is subjected to the action of a torsion spring 19, is operatively connected via an arm 20 and a control rod or guide rod 21 with a double-arm lever 22 which, in turn, is subjected to the action of a rod 23. This rod 23 in suitable manner is operatively connected with a mechanical, electrical, or optical feeler (for example stop stirrup 7 shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 4) and which continuously supervises the travel and condition of the yarn. This operative connection is effected such that the rod 23 upon appearance of yarn rupture or breakage is displaced downwardly, whereby the doublearm lever 22 executes a rocking movement in counterclockwise direction. The physical structure bringing about operation of the double-arm lever 22 and also stopping of the table C at the servicing unit D has been omitted in FIGURE 3 for the sake of clarity in illustration, yet will be considered fully in conjunction with the embodiment of FIGURE 4 where such structure is shown in detail. The torsion spring 19 serves the purpose of holding in contact a pin 24 provided at the arm 18 with a stop nose 25 disposed at the shaft or rod 17. This rod 17 is provided with an entrainment means 26 which cooperates with a corresponding entrainment means 27 arranged at the rod 15, and indeed, in such a manner that, with a rocking or pivoting of the rod 17 in the direction of the arrow 28 the rod 15 is also entrained.

Whereas the cam disk 30 operates upon the arm 14 through the agency of the rod 29, such cam disk 30 being seated upon a shaft 31, the rod 17 carries a control arm 32 which cooperates with a rod 34 actuated by a cam disk 33. The cam disk 33, in turn, is seated upon a control shaft 35 which is directly coupled with the control shaft 31 and carries out the same rotational movement as this last-mentioned control shaft.

A respective electric switch 36 and 37 is associated with the arms 13 and 18 of the yarn feelers 12 and 4 respectively, whereby such switches are arranged in parallel in a releasing or trigger circuit, generally designated by reference numeral 38. The trigger or switch circuit 38 can operate either directly or via a further switch member upon the servicing unit D for removing the dis turbance, and as will more fully be explained hereinafter, particularly in conjunction with FIGURE 6, in such a manner that such servicing unit when located in a position which is associated with one of the relevant yarn winding stations or locations is placed into operation for the purpose of carrying out a delivery bobbin exchange for example.

If yarn rupture occurs, in such case then, the rod 23 is moved downwardly in the previously described manner,

the double-arm lever 22 is pivoted in counterclockwise direction and via the guide rod 21, the arm 20, the torsion spring 19 and the arm 18, the yarn feeler 4 is rocked or pivoted inwardly into the balloon breaker 3. At the same time, the entrainment arm 26 in consequence of its pivoting permits a following movement of the entrainment arm 27 by rotating the shaft under the action of the torsion spring 16, so that also the yarn feeler 12 is pivoted towards the delivery bobbin 2. If the yarn feeler 4 does not encounter any yarn 1 at the balloon breaker 3, or, the delivery bobbin 2 exhibits an insuflicient remaining yarn package, in such case, then, either the switch 36 or the switch 37 is closed under the action of the levers 18 and 13 respectively, whereby also the switch or trigger circuit 38 is closed and upon preparing for operation the servicing unit D the delivery bobbin exchange operation is initiated. Specifically, it will be recognized that the trigger circuit 38 incorporates a pair of contact springs 38a located at each winding station B which are electrically coupled with the switches 36 and 37 thereof. Contact springs 38a cooperate with contact rails or elements 38b of the trigger circuit 38 which are located at the stationary machine base A. The contact rails 3812 are positioned at the machine frame A such that they are only first contacted by the contact springs 38a directly prior to arrival of the corresponding yarn winding station B in its operable position relative to the servicing unit D, so that simultaneous with the arrival of the aforementioned yarn winding station B in the position where it is acted upon by the servicing unit D a coupling 68, further to be considered in connection with FIGURE 6, is energized and brings about a bobbin exchange operation, as also will be considered in greater detail during discussion of FIGURE 6.

During such time as the delivery bobbin-exchange operation is triggered, the shafts 31 and which are operably connected for rotation with a control shaft 64 (FIGURE 6) begin to rotate, whereby via the rods 29 and 34 and the arms 14 and 32 a rotation of the shafts 15 and 17 takes place in such a manner that the yarn feelers 12 and 4 are pivoted towards their inoperative position. As a result, the relevant winding location is prepared for the ejection of the empty delivery bobbin 2 and the mounting of the new full delivery bobbin, as well as a drawing-in of the yarn into the balloon breaker 3. The cam disk 33 is thus constructed in such a manner that during further rotation of the shafts 31 and 35 it again releases the yarn feeler 4 through the agency of the arm 32 and the shaft 17, so that the yarn feeler 4 can close over the yarn 1 inserted into the balloon breaker 3, in order to retain such yarn 1 in the inserted position and during knotting to operate as a yarn brake If the knotting operation is completed then the control or switching rod 23 is caused to perform an upward movement via the non-illustrated yarn feeler (that is feeler 7 in FIGURES 1, 2, 4), whereby a return of the yarn feeler 4 into its open position takes place. In so doing, also the shaft 15 is prevented from performing a rotation, which would cause approach of the yarn feeler 12 at the delivery bobbin 2, through the agency of the entrainment means 26 and the entrainment means 27, although the arm 14 has been released by the rod 29 and the cam disk 30, respectively.

In the event that none of the yarn feelers 12 or 4 respond and, as a result, none of the switches 36 and 37 are closed, if in consequence of yarn rupture a yarn scanning occurs, then during the preparing for operation of the servicing unit D also no delivery bobbin exchange is initiated. The removal of the yarn feeler 4 takes place before initiation of the knotting operation by virtue of the rotation of the shafts 31 and 35 which in the meantime has been initiated, as aforedescribed, whereby the feeler 4 immediately after the seeking of the yarn and the leading of the same to the knotting mechanism (not illustrated), is again released by the cam disk 33 in order to operate as a yarn brake during initial winding, as previously explained. Upon switching-in of the winding location for the operational winding process, the feelers 4 and 12 are rendered inoperative in the previously described manner, in other words are retained in their ineffective or inoperative position.

Directing attention now to the further embodiment depicted in FIGURE 4, and wherein like reference numerals have been generally employed for the same or analogous elements, it will 'be seen that the yarn 1 coming from the delivery bobbin or cop 2 is again guided through the balloon breaker 3 equipped with a yarn feeler 4, and is further guided via yarn guide 5, yarn brake 6, stop stirrup or bracket 7 and the grooved drum 8 to the windup bobbin 9. This wind-up bobbin 9 is frictionally driven by means of the grooved drum 8 which is coupled with an electric motor 8a.

If yarn tension is no longer present in consequence of yarn rupture then the stop stirrup or bracket 7 falls forwardly and actuates, by means of its rearwardly extending arm 39, the double-acting switch 40 in such a manner that, on the one hand, the current circuit 41 is interrupted and, on the other hand, the current circuit 42 is closed. In the current circuit 41 there is coupled the electric motor 8a which due to opening of current circuit 41 stops and thereby shuts-down the relevant winding location.

A pair of electromagnets 43 and 44 are parallelly connected in the current circuit 42, both of which due to closing of the aforesaid current circuit 42 respond. The electromagnet 43 actuates the yarn feeler 4 of the balloon breaker 3, in the manner already described in conjunction with the embodiment of FIGURE 3, and indeed via rod 23, angle lever 22, guide rod 21, lever 20 arranged upon shaft or rod 17 and arm 18, the pin 24 of which is held by torsion spring 19 against the nose 25 of the lever 20, whereby the yarn feeler 4 arranged at the arm 18 with the presence of a yarn portion in the balloon breaker 3 can follow with respect to the rotation of the levers 20, 25 and rod 17 respectively. The second electromagnet 44 displaces a control bolt 45 towards the front into position 45a, and indeed, into the operating zone of a switch 46 arranged at the stationary machine base A (FIGURES l and 2), which upon actuation interrupts the travelling motion of the revolving turret or circular table C, as soon as the relevant winding location has reached the position in front of the servicing unit D for correction of the faulty yarn condition. As previously mentioned, the electromagnet 43 and associated structure for operating angle lever 22 and the further electromagnet 4 and control bolt 45 used for stopping the movement of the table C, could also be employed in the embodiment of FIGURE 3. Of course, a direct mechanical connection, for instance by means of appropriate linkages or levers, could be provided between the yarn feeler 7 and the double-arm lever 22 in lieu of the use of an electromagnet 43.

Additionally, the shaft or rod 17 carries an arm 47 provided with a switching or control roller 48 which, through the described rotation of the rod 17, is pivoted into the operating zone of switching rail 49 arranged at a pivotal double-arm lever 50. This double-arm lever 50 is disposed at the stationary machine base A (FIG- URES 1 and 2) and carries at its second end a y'arn remainder feeler 51, schematically illustrated in FIGURE 5 and which upon actuation through the agency of the switch or control roller 48 is guided towards the delivery bobbin or spool 2 against the force of the tension spring 50a.

In FIGURE 5 there are illustnated details of the yarn remainder feeler 51 land, in this embodiment, such feeler exhibits two testers or scanners 52 and 53, each of which are operatively connected with an electric switch 54 land.

55 respectively. Both scanners 52 and 53 are retained under the action of spring force .in a direction towards the delivery bobbin '2 which, in this figure, hlas been shown rotated approximately 90 from its normal operating position. The scanner 52 is disposed in the zone of the free bobbin jacket end 2a and its switch 54 is normally open in the rest condition. The scanner 53 is located in the zone of the remainder of the yarn package 2b and its switch 55 is normally closed in the rest condition. Both switches 54 and 55 together with the current source 56 and the magnetic switch 57 provide a current circuit. The magnet switch 57 is open in its rest condition and closes a current circuit 38 upon excitation.

Thus, if sufficient yarn is available at the delivery bobbin 2 then the scanner 53- opens the switch 55 before the scanner 52 which bears against the bobbin jacket 2a has closed the switch 54. Thus, the current circuit to the switch 57 remains interrupted and consequently also the current circuit 38. On the other hand, if only insuflicient remaining yarn portion 2b is available, then the tester or scanner 52 closes the switch 54 without the tester or scanner 53 being able to open the switch 55. The current circuit to the switch 57 is thus also closed and thereby also the current circuit 38. This current circuit 38, in addition to being closed by the switch 57, can also be closed by the parallelly connected switch 37 actuated by the arm 18 and the yarn feeler 4 (FIGURES 3 and 4). It will be recognized that also in this embodiment each switch 37 of the various yarn winding stations B is coupled with the circuit 38 via a pair of movable contact springs 38a capable of cooperating with the properly located contact rails 38b located at the stationary machine base A, for the purpose explained in conjunction with the description of the embodiment of FIGURE 3. The closing of the current circuit 38 by means of the switch 37, in other words absence of yarn in the balloon breaker 3, or by switch 57 on account of insufficient remaining yarn package at the delivery spool 2, initiates in desired manner, via the coupling 68, a delivery spool exchange by means of the servicing unit D, as will still be more fully explained shortly.

The actuation of the yarn feeler 4 during the removal of the fiaulty or undesired yarn condition and the return into the inoperative position also occurs in this embodiment of FIGURE 4 in a manner [analogousto that de scribed in FIGURE 3, and specifically by virtue of the arm 32 seated upon the rod 17, guide rod 34 and cam disk 33 mounted upon shaft 35, whereby these elements have not been illustrated in FIGURE 4 for convenience in illustration. The return of the remaining components occurs after again providing the yarn tension by raising the stop feeler bracket or stirrup 7, thereby releasing the d-ouble acting switch 40, wherein the electromagnets 43 and 44 have associated therewith non-illustrated return springs.

In FIGURE 6 a possible mode of operation of the described monitoring or supervision mechanism is schematically illustrated. The switching bolt 45 which has moved into the switching position 45a in consequence of yarn rupture in the manner previously described, actuates the cut-out switch 46 which stops the circular table or turret C and the relevant winding location B in front of the servicing unit D by cutting-out the drive motor 58, with the exact position of the winding location B being ensured for by means of an arresting bolt 59. This arresting bolt 59 during normal yarn winding is held in its inoperative position by means of an electnomagnet 60 electrically coupled in the same current circuit as the drive motor 58, such current circuit being interrupted by the switch 46. Thus, shutting-off the motor 58 also simultaneously results in a dropping of the arresting bolt 59 in a fixing bore 61 provided at the table C, whereby the bolt 59 actuates a switch 62 disposed beneath bore '61.

The control or actuation of the disturbance removal mechanism takes place by means of suitable nonillustrated transmission means from the cam disks 63 and 63a arranged at both of the control shafts 64 and 65 respectively. Both of these control shafts 64 lflllld 65 are driven by the continuously running motor 66, whereby between the drive mot-or 66 and the control shaft 64 there is provided a coupling 67, the characteristics of which resides in the fact that such automatically cutsout after a complete revolution (360) of the control shaft 64. The coupling 68 between both of the control shafts '64 and 65 on the other hand openatively connects both these control shafts only in a predetermined mutual position with respect to one another.

The mode of operation takes place in the following manner:

In the presence of yarn rupture the table or turret C is stopped in the described manner and by means of the switch 62 the current circuit 69 is closed, whereby in accordance with the coupling action brought about by the coupling 67 the control shaft 64 executes a complete revolution. The cam disks 63 of the control shaft 64 actuate during this rotational revolution all of the apparatus or mechanism necessary for knotting together both of the yarn ends and for again bringing into operation the relevant winding location. If the current circuit 38 is closed by the switch 37 in view of an absence of yarn at the balloon breaker 3 or due to the yarn remainder feeler 51, that is, if additionally a delivery bobbin exchange is necessary, then the coupling 68 connects the control shaft 65 with the control shaft 64, whereby the cam disks 63a actuate the bobbin change mechanism.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practised within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Method for processing faulty yarn conditions appearing at automatic yarn winders of the type provided with a plurality of yarn winding locations and a unit for correcting such occurring faulty yarn conditions, which comprises the steps of: supervising yarn travel at the individual yarn winding locations, upon appearance of a faulty yarn condition at a given yarn winding location such as absence of the yarn at any point between the delivery bobbin and wind-up bobbin of said given yarn winding location always positively triggering at least one further yarn supervising activity upon the yarn at such given yarn winding location in response to the sensing of said faulty yarn condition in order to determine significant information as to the amount of yarn remaining at the delivery bobbin, obtaining significant information as to the amount of yarn remaining at the delivery bobbin due to such further yarn supervising activity when the yarn possesses a given condition which is to be corrected by the unit and prior to such unit beginning correction of the faulty yarn condition.

2. Method for processing faulty yarn conditions appearing at automatic yarn winders of the type provided with a plurality of yarn winding locations and a unit for correcting such occurring faulty yarn conditions, which com: prises the steps of: supervising yarn travel at the individual yarn winding locations, upon appearance of a faulty yarn condition at a given yarn winding location manifested by absence of the yarn at any point between the delivery bobbin and wind-up bobbin of said given yarn winding location always positively initiating at least one further yarn supervising activity upon the yarn at such given yarn winding location in response to the sensing of said faulty yarn condition in order to determine significant information as to the amount of yarn remaining at its delivery bobbin, generating an error signal due to such further yarn supervising activity when the yarn possesses a given condition which is to be corrected by the unit, and acting upon such unit by means of this error signal prior to such unit beginning correction of the faulty yarn condition in accordance with such error signal.

3. Method for processing faulty yarn conditions appearing at automatic yarn winders of the type provided with a plurality of yarn winding locations as the yarn moves from its delivery bobbin to the wind-up bobbin and a unit for correcting such occurring faulty yarn conditions, which comprises the steps of: supervising yarn travel at the individual yarn winding locations, upon appearance of a faulty yarn condition at a given yarn winding location always positively initiating at least one further yarn supervising activity upon the yarn at such given yarn winding location by displacing a yarn feeler element from a position normally out of contact with the yarn into a position capable of contacting the yarn and in response to the sensing of said faulty yarn condition in order to determine significant information as to the amount of yarn remaining at the delivery bobbin, generating an error signal due to such further yarn superivising activity when the yarn possesses a given condition which is to be corrected by the unit, and preparing such unit for operation by means of this error signal prior to such unit and given yarn winding location coming into operable working association for correction of the faulty yarn condition.

4. Method for processing faulty yarn conditions appearing at automatic yarn winders of the type provided with a plurality of yarn winding locations and a unit for correcting such occurring faulty yarn conditions, with the yarn travelling at each yarn winding location between a delivery bobbin and a wind-up bobbin, which comprises the steps of: supervising yarn travel at the individual yarn winding locations, upon appearance of a faulty yarn condition at a given yarn winding location manifested by absence of the yarn at any point between the delivery bobbin and wind-up bobbin of said given yarn winding location always triggering at least one further yarn supervising activity upon the yarn at such given yarn winding location in response to the sensing of said faulty yarn condition in order to determine significant information as to the amount of yarn remaining at the delivery bobbin, generating an error signal due to such further yarn supervising activity when the yarn posseses a given condition which is to be corrected by the unit, and acting upon such unit by means of this error signal prior to such unit beginning correction of the faulty yarn condition in de pendence upon such error signal.

5. Method for processing faulty yarn conditions, as defined in claim 4 wherein the further supervising step carried out upon the yarn takes place at each yarn winding location and prior to the relevant winding location coming into operable working association with the unit.

6. Method for processing faulty yarn conditions appearing at automatic yarn winders of the type provided with a plurality of yarn winding locations and a unit for correcting such occurring faulty yarn conditions, with the yarn travelling at each yarn winding location between a delivery bobbin and a wind-up bobbin, which comprises the steps of: supervising yarn travel at the individual yarn winding locations, upon appearance of a faulty yarn condition at a given yarn winding location always initiating at least one further yarn supervising activity upon the yarn at such given yarn winding location and at the delivery side of the yarn from the delivery bobbin in order to determine significant information as to the condition of the yarn, carrying out an additional yarn supervising activity upon the yarn package to determine the amount of yarn remaining thereon at a common location forward of the unit and through which all of the yarn winding locations must pass, generating an error signal due to such further yarn supervising activity when the yarn possesses a given condition which is to be corrected by the unit, and acting upon such unit by means of this error signal prior to such unit beginning correction of the faulty yarn condition in dependance upon such error signal.

7. In combination with an automatic yarn winder of the type provided with a plurality of yarn winding stations, each having a delivery bobbin and a wind-up bobbin and a unit for correcting faulty yarn conditions which may appear at the individual yarn winding stations, an apparatus for processing such faulty yarn conditions comprising yarn feeler as well as at least one further yarn supervising element, said unit cooperating with said yarn feeler and yarn supervising element for response to an error signal from said yarn feeler denoting a faulty yarn condition appearing at a given yarn winding station for initiating a knotting operation and for response to an error signal from said further yarn supervising element denoting a faulty yarn condition at such given yarn winding station for initiating a delivery bobbin exchange operation when such unit and given yarn winding station assume a relative position permitting removal of the faulty yarn condition, means normally inoperative located between said yarn feeler and said further yarn supervising element for operating said further yarn supervising element to perform a checking operation at the yarn, said yarn feeler when denoting a faulty yarn condition positively operating said normally inoperative means to cause said further yarn supervising element to perform said checking operation at the yarn whenever said yarn feeler responds to a faulty yarn condition and prior to said given yarn winding station'arriving at a position to be serviced by said unit, said further yarn supervising element carrying out a yarn check-ing operation which is triggered by said yarn feeler and whenever yarn is absent at any point between the delivery bobbin and wind-up bobbin of said given yarn winding station, signal means cooperating with said further yarn supervising element in order to transmit information about the faulty yarn condition determined by said further yarn supervising element to said unit.

8. In combination with an automatic winder of the type provided with a plurality of yarn Winding stations each having a delivery bobbin and a wind-up bobbin and a unit for correcting faulty yarn conditions which may appear at the individual yarn winding stations, an apparatus for-processing such faulty yarn conditions comprising a yarn feeler as well as at least one further yarn supervising element provided for each yarn winding station, said unit being constructed to cooperate with said yarn feeler and yarn supervising element for response to an error signal from said yarn feeler denoting a faulty yarn condition appearing at a given yarn wind-ing station for initiating a knotting operation and for response to an error signal from said further yarn supervising element denoting a faulty yarn condition at such given yarn winding station for initiating a delivery bobbin exchange operation when such unit and given yarn winding station assume a relative position permitting removal of the fautly yarn condition, means normally inoperative located between said yarn feeler and said further yarn supervising element for operating said further yarn supervising element to perform a checking operation at the yarn, said yarn feeler when denoting a faulty yarn condition positively operating said normally inoperative means to cause said further yarn supervising element to perform said checking operation at the yarn whenever said yarn feeler responds to a faulty yarn condition and prior to said given yarn winding station arriving at a position to be serviced by said unit, said further yarn supervising element carrying ,out a yarn checking operation which is triggered by said yarn feeler and whenever yarn is absent at any point between the delivery bobbin and wind-up bobbin of said given yarn winding station, signal means cooperating with said further yarn supervising element in order to transmit significant information about the faulty yarn condition determined by said further yarn supervising element to said unit.

9. In combination with an automatic yarn winder of the type provided with a plurality of yarn winding stations and a unit for correcting faulty yarn conditions which may appear at the individual yarn winding stations, a delivery bobbin for each yarn winding station carrying the yarn package to be delivered, an apparatus for processing such faulty yarn conditions comprising a first yarn feeler and a further yarn supervising element provided for each yarn winding station, a yarn feeler means for determining the amount of yarn remaining on the yarn package at a delivery bobbin, said further yarn supervising element comprising a second yarn feeler for checking presence of yarn at the delivery side of the associated delivery bobbin, said unit being constructed to cooperate with said first yarn feeler and yarn supervising element for response to an error signal from said first yarn feeler denoting a faulty yarn condition appearing at a given yarn winding station for initiating a knotting operation and for response toan error signal from said further yarn supervising element denoting a faulty yarn condition at such given yarn winding station for initiating a delivery bobbin-exchange operation when such unit and given yarn winding station assume a relative position permitting removal of the faulty yarn condition, said first yarn feeler for transmitting an error signal being operatively coupled with said further yarn supervising element in order to cause the latter to also perform a checking operation at the yarn whenever said first yarn feeler responds to a faulty yarn condition, signal means cooperating with said further yarn supervising element in order to transmit significant information about the faulty yarn condition determined by said further yarn supervising element to said unit, said yarn feeler means for determining the amount of yarn remaining on the yarn package cooperating with said first yarn feeler for actuation thereby and operably associated with said signal means in order to cause indication of a faulty yarn condition independently of said further yarn supervising element.

10. The combination as defined in claim 9 wherein said yarn feeler means for determining the remaining yarn package comprises a single yarn feeler means common to said plurality of winding stations for correcting faulty yarn conditions.

11. The combination as defined in claim 10 wherein said signal means comprises an electric current circuit including switch contacts coupled in said electric circuit with which operably cooperate said first yarn feeler, yarn feeler means and second yarn feeler.

12. The combination as defined in claim 9 further including a rotatable table at which each yarn winding station is arranged, said unit being stationary with said rotatable table travelling past said unit, said yarn feeler means for determining the remaining yarn package at a delivery bobbin being located forwardly of said unit in the direction of rotation of said rotatable table.

13. The combination as defined in claim 9, wherein said yarn feeler means for determining the remaining yarn pack-age at a delivery bobbin comprises individual yarn feeler means provided for each winding station.

14. In combination with an automatic yarn winder of the type provided with a plurality of yarn winding stations, and each having a delivery bobbin and a wind-up bobbin and a unit for correcting faulty yarn conditions which may appear at the individual yarn winding stations, an apparatus for processing such faulty yarn conditions comprising a yarn feeler as well as at least one further yarn supervising element, means normally inoperative located between said yarn feeler and said further yarn supervising element for operating said further yarn supervising element to perform a checking operation at the yarn, said yarn feeler when denoting a faulty yarn condition positively operating said normally inoperative means to cause said further yarn supervising element to perform said checking operation at the yarn whenever said yarn feeler responds toa faulty yarn condition and prior to operation of said unit for correcting faulty yarn conditions, said further yarn supervising element carrying out a yarn checking operation which is triggered by said yarn feeler and whenever yarn is absent at any point between the delivery bobbin and wind-up bobbin of the associated yarn winding station.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,338,914 1/1944 Esser et al 242-35.6 2,800,287 7/ 1957 Reiners et a1. 242-356 3,030,040 4/ 1962 Reiners 242-35.6 3,031,149 4/1962 Furst et a1. 242-356 3,168,257 2/1965 Perry 242-35.5

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,332,980 6/ 1963 France.

STANLEY N. GILREATH, Primary Examiner. 

1. METHOD FOR PROCESSING FAULTY YARN CONDITIONS APPEARING AT AUTOMATIC YARN WINDERS OF THE TYPE PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF YARN WINDING LOCATIOND AND A UNIT FOR CORRECTING SUCH OCCURRING FAULTY ARN CONDITIONS, WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF: SUPERVISING YARN TRAVEL AT THE INDIVIDUAL YARN WINDING LOCATIONS, UPON APPERANCE OF A FAULTY YARN CONDITION AT A GIVEN YARN WINDING LOCATION SUCH AS ABSENCE OF THE YARN AT ANY POINT BETWEEN THE DELIVERY BOBBIN AND WIND-UP BOBBIN OF SAID GIVEN YARN WINDING LOCATION ALWAYS POSITIVELY TRIGGERING AT LEAST ONE FURTHER YARN SUPERVISING ACTIVITY UPON THE YARN AT SUCH GIVEN YARN WINDING LOCATION IN RESPONSE TO THE SENSING OF SAID FAULTY YARN CONDITION IN ORDER TO DETERMINE SIGNIFICANT INFORMATION AS TO THE AMOUNT OF YARN REMAINING AT THE DELIVERY BOBBIN, OBTAINING SIGNIFICANT INFORMATION AS TO THE AMOUNT OF YARN REMAINING AT THE DELIVERY BOBBIN DUE TO SUCH FURTHER YARN SUPERVISING ACTIVITY WHEN THE YARN POSSESSES A GIVEN CONDITION WHICH IS TO BE CORRECTED BY THE UNIT AND PRIOR TO SUCH UNIT BEGINNING CORRECTION OF THE FAULTY YARN CONDITION.
 7. IN COMBINATION WITH AN AUTOMATIC YARN WINDER OF THE TYPE PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF YARN WINDING STATIONS, EACH HAVING A DELIVERY BOBBIN AND A WIND-UP BOBBIN AND A UNIT FOR CORRECTING FAULTY YARN CONDITIONS WHICH MAY APPEAR AT THE INDIVIDUAL YARN WINDING STATIONS, AN APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING SUCH FAULTY YARN CONDITIONS COMPRISING YARN FEELER AS WELL AS AT LEAST ONE FURTHER YARN SUPERVISING ELEMENT, SAID UNIT COOPERATING WITH SAID YARN FEELER AND YARN SUPERVISING ELEMENT FOR RESPONSE TO AN ERROR SIGNAL FROM SAID YARN FEELER DENOTING A FAULTY YARN CONDITION APPEARING AT A GIVEN YARN WINDING STATION FOR INITIATING A KNOTTING OPERATION AND A FOR RESPONSE TO AN ERROR SIGNAL FROM SAID FURTHER YARN SUPERVISING ELEMENT DENOTING A FAULTY YARN CONDITION AT SUCH GIVEN YARN WINDING STATION FOR INITIATING A DELIVERY BOBBIN EXCHANGE OPERATION WHEN SUCH UNIT AND GIVEN YARN WINDING STATION ASSUME A RELATIVE POSITION PERMITTING REMOVAL OF THE FAULTY YARN CONDITION, MEANS NORMALLY INOPERATIVE LOCATED BETWEEN SAID YARN FEELER AND SAID FURTHER YARN SUPERVISING ELEMENT FOR OPERATING SAID FURTHER YARN SUPERVISING ELEMENT TO PERFORM A CHECKING OPERATION AT THE YARN, SAID YARN FEELER WHEN DENOTING A FAULTY YARN CONDITION POSITIVELY OPERATING SAID NORMALLY INOPERATIVE MEANS TO CAUSE SAID FURTHER YARN SUPERVISING ELEMENT TO PERFORM SAID CHECKING OPERATION AT THE YARN WHENEVER SAID YARN FEELER RESPONDS TO A FAULTY YARN CONDITION AND PRIOR TO SAID GIVEN YARN WINDING STATION ARRIVING AT A POSITION TO BE SERVICED BY SAID UNIT, SAID FURTHER YARN SUPERVISING ELEMENT CARRYING OUT A YARN CHECKING OPERATION WHICH IS TRIGGERED BY SAID YARN FEELER AND WHENEVER YARN IS ABSENT AT ANY POINT BETWEEN THE DELIVERY BOBBIN AND WIND-UP BOBBIN OF SAID GIVEN YARN WINDING STATION, SIGNAL MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAID FURTHER YARN SUPERVISING ELEMENT IN ORDER TO TRANSMIT INFORMATION ABOUT THE FAULTY YARN CONDITION DETERMINED BY SAID FURTHER YARN SUPERVISING ELEMENT TO SAID UNIT. 